X
Time for a signature refresh
stronger together

Stronger
Together

Habitat for Humanity Canada
2023 Year in Review

We envision a world where everyone has a safe and decent place to live.

Message from Habitat Canada’s
Board Chair and President and CEO

Tackling Canada’s housing crisis one family at a time

Mavis and her children receive the keys to their new Habitat home
Mavis and her children receive the keys to their new Habitat home
Riccardo Trecroce Board Chair, Habitat for Humanity Canada Headshot

Riccardo Trecroce

Board Chair,
Habitat for Humanity Canada

Riccardo Trecroce Board Chair, Habitat for Humanity Canada Signature
Julia Deans President and CEO, Habitat for Humanity Canada Headshot

Julia Deans

President and CEO,
Habitat for Humanity Canada

Julia Deans President and CEO, Habitat for Humanity Canada Signature

At a Habitat for Humanity key ceremony — a symbolic event where a family is presented with the keys to their new home — you can see the joy that affordable homeownership brings. There are a lot of smiles, often tears, and an abundance of gratitude and pride. Thanks to the dedicated work of donors, partners, and volunteers, another family is on the path to a brighter future.

In 2023, 737 people in communities across Canada experienced the joy of a new Habitat home, including Mavis in Thorold, Ontario. A health-care worker, single parent, and newcomer to Canada, Mavis and her three children left a cramped one-bedroom apartment for a new house, where each of her children can enjoy the freedom of their own bedroom. For Mavis, a Habitat home brings safety, freedom and stability.

At 46 local Habitats across Canada, 2,500 working, lower-income families like Mavis’s — including Black and Indigenous families, single-parent families, and people living with a disability — continued to benefit from a geared-to-income mortgage that allows them to build equity in their home and a foundation for a stronger future.

But 2023 was not an easy year to build Habitat homes — or any affordable housing. Rising interest rates and inflation put land, materials, labour and capital further out of reach. The barriers to homeownership became even more entrenched. And, as our own Affordable Housing Survey showed, many Canadians are at a breaking point when it comes to juggling the costs of living, including housing.

As Canada’s only national affordable homeownership organization, we know that there are solutions, and we are working to bring them to life every day. In addition to building, we work with housing sector partners and all orders of government to push for action and policies that will remove barriers across the housing spectrum and get more homes built.

We are also innovating our programs. In 2023, the successful pilot of our Critical Repairs Program allowed homeowners living in unsafe conditions to remain in their homes with dignity. We look forward to reaching even more families as this becomes a permanent program in 2024.

In addition to our work at home, we support our global neighbours. As a member of Habitat for Humanity International, Habitat Canada is part of a global network of Habitats in more than 70 countries that in 2023 collectively helped more than 13.4 million people around the world to build or improve a place to call home.

None of this work would happen without our generous corporate and individual donors, 12,000 volunteers, and customers at our 106 Habitat ReStores, and we are deeply grateful for their support.

At Habitat for Humanity, we are motivated by our vision of a future in which everyone has access to a safe and affordable home. We are inspired by new homeowners like Mavis and her commitment to building a stronger future for her family. As you read their stories, and about all the accomplishments we achieved together this year, we hope you will be inspired, too.

Map of Canada with dots signifying where Habitat Canada works

Where we
work

In 2023, Habitat for Humanity Canada supported 46 local Habitats across Canada in working towards our shared global vision: a world where everyone has a decent place to live.

Coloured hexagons wiith images showing our impact for 2023

Our
Impact

In 2023, you helped us build strength, stability and independence for families in Canada and around the world.

737 people from 192 families benefitted from homeownership by partnering with Habitat in 2023

Blue house with an icon of a woman with the number 47%

Half (47%) of families are women-led, single-parent households

Orange house with an icon of a wheelchair with the number 21%

of families have one member living with a physical or mental disability

Green house with an icon of a door with the number 38%

of homes are partially or fully accessible

Green house with an icon of a person with the number 12%

of families have at least one member who identifies as Indigenous

Blue house with an icon of a maple leaf with the number 13%

of families have at least one member who is a recent immigrant to Canada

Ornage house with an icon of a family with the number 11%

of families self-identify as Black

House with heart icon

12,000

volunteers gave almost half a million hours of their time to Habitat

Framing the future

Canada’s housing crisis demands that we continue to find new ways to make an impact. Habitat Canada is in year three of our federation’s strategic plan, Framing the Future, which continues to be our roadmap to expanded impact within Canada and around the world through building, housing solutions, advocacy and partnerships.

Habitat Canada 2021-2024 strategic priorities

Remembering Rosalynn Carter

Last year, we joined colleagues across the global Habitat network in mourning the death of Rosalynn Carter, a champion and strong voice for affordable, decent housing for all. Habitat Canada was honoured to host Mrs. Carter and her husband, President Jimmy Carter, on three occasions, including their first trip for Habitat outside of the United States.

Read more about Rosalynn Carter’s impact on Habitat.

Rosalynn Carter visiting a Habitat construction site

A tale of two Mavises
Two mothers build a new future in Habitat homes

In 2023, two single-parent families led by moms named Mavis who live thousands of kilometres apart moved into their new Habitat homes. While each Mavis has a unique story to tell, what united them was an inability to find safe, decent and affordable housing for their families, and the life-changing impact of Habitat’s affordable homeownership program.

Home is for making memories

Despite having a good job, Mavis, a single mom, struggled to find affordable housing for her family. After her third eviction from a rental home – each time due to a landlord wanting to move in – she discovered that the rental market had vastly changed, and the rise in demand meant she was no longer able to find or afford a home in her community.

Mavis and her two boys, now 16-and 7-years, lived in transitional housing for a while, stayed with family and then finally moved to a campground where they lived for six years—at first in a tent, then in a camper, and finally in a travel trailer Mavis’s aunt helped finance.

Mavis continued to apply for affordable housing right up until being approved by Habitat for Humanity Vancouver Island North. “It was such a huge relief to be accepted. I’m an RN and I work in long term care as a charge nurse, but as a single parent it’s very hard to make ends meet.”

A life-changing impact

Partnering with Habitat for Humanity means Mavis was able to buy her own Habitat home with a no down-payment, affordable mortgage geared to her income. She volunteered 500 hours of her time at her local Habitat ReStore and at the build site. The family recently moved into their new home, and the financial stability, physical space, sense of community and confidence she’s already gained has truly been impactful. Life changing.

No longer having to consistently worry about her finances and their living situation means Mavis finally has the physical and mental space to focus on other things. With a full-sized kitchen, she’s now able to cook and prepare nutritious meals for her family. With a grant from her alma mater, Mavis intends on taking a wound care course and other hospice courses to further her education and career and looks forward to being able to save for her boys’ education.

Volunteering at the ReStore has given Mavis the confidence to be a successful homeowner. With the encouragement of ReStore staff and other volunteers she’s learned valuable skills; she recently refinished a cabinet for the house and has already painted the downstairs floor.

And she’s paying it forward: “I love everything Habitat. Even though I finished my 500 hours long ago, I continue to volunteer at the Habitat ReStore because I can pass on some of those community hours to future Habitat homeowners, and that feels good to me. Plus, it's really fun just to get out there and volunteer.”

Best of all, her boys are thriving. They have their own rooms, and her eldest son Clyde is proud to have a home and a safe space to host his friends. The family now lives around the corner from Mavis’s mother, who looks after her youngest son before he goes to school, and he has playmates who live next door and in the neighbourhood.

“Homeownership makes me feel proud. I feel part of the community, I don't feel like I'm in the margins. I just have that sense of fulfillment, that sense of accomplishment or achievement. I can't explain it, it's just like I'm able to provide for my family. I'm able to contribute in a way that I couldn't before.”

“This is our safe haven. I’m looking forward to making memories in our new home and no longer having to worry about the future.”

Mavis standing outside her home she bought from Habitat Canada
"Homeownership makes me feel proud. I feel part of the community, I don't feel like I'm in the margins." - Mavis
Mavis sitting on the ground with her three children
“Owning my own house means everything to me ... [it] will give my children the opportunity to discover what they want to do with their lives.” - Mavis

A new beginning

Mavis became a widow when her children were young, but even without a partner to help support the family, she remained committed to providing safety and stability for her three children. So, when violent crime was on the rise in her native Zimbabwe, she immigrated to Canada in search of a better life for her family.

Mavis and her children started life in Canada in a one-bedroom apartment. But finding a larger place to live was financially out of reach. “Seeing my kids cramped in a one-bedroom apartment, especially during online learning because of COVID, broke my heart,” said Mavis. “It was terrible seeing them trying to do their school presentations in the washroom because our place was so small and there wasn’t any privacy.”

A health-care worker, Mavis contracted COVID-19 during the height of the pandemic and had to self-isolate so she wouldn’t transmit the virus to her children. Without a room of her own, she lived in the bathroom. Every time one of her children needed to use it, Mavis had to sanitize the bathroom and leave the apartment – a tough balancing act, during a scary time.

Thanks to Habitat for Humanity Niagara and support from the Government of Canada through the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation’s Black Families Funding Initiative, Mavis and her children moved into their new Habitat home in Thorold, Ontario. Now, Mavis can create long-term plans and provide her children with a safe and decent place to live and grow.

“Honestly, from deep down in my heart, owning my own house means everything to me,” she says. “It means decency, safety, freedom, happiness, joy and stability, and will give my children the opportunity to discover what they want to do with their lives.”

A sustainable future

Andrea and her son at their new home dedication ceremony.
Joyous: Andrea and her son at their new home dedication ceremony

Building Habitat homes that are good for people and the planet

Across Canada, local Habitats are employing new building technologies and energy-efficiency measures to minimize environmental impact, while helping to ensure homes remain affordable for years to come. This includes net-zero ready and net-zero homes that are 80-100% more efficient than homes built to conventional standards.

Using the BC Energy Step Code, a voluntary provincial standard that goes beyond the requirements of the base BC Building Code, Habitat for Humanity Southeast BC recently achieved the province’s highest energy efficiency rating of Step Code 5 on its four-unit townhome in Castlegar.

Built with an airtight building envelope, improved insulation, and high-efficiency windows, and wired for a future renewable energy system such as solar panels, net-zero ready homes provide families with low utility bills, a lower household carbon footprint and improved indoor air quality.

"This home represents more than just boards, nails, and paint. It embodies the dreams of stability, security and a place to call our own. Our lives are forever changed.”
– Andrea, new Habitat Southeast BC homeowner

Safety and independence

An accessible home creates new possibilities

Everyone should have equitable access to an affordable home that can meet their needs, regardless of ability. Safe and accessible homes can provide independence and an enhanced quality of life for families living with physical and invisible disabilities, and the option to remain in their homes for years to come.

At least 20% of Habitat homes built with the support of the Government of Canada’s Affordable Housing Fund (previously the Affordable Housing Fund) will meet or exceed the federal government’s accessibility criteria. As of 2023, 68 accessible Habitat homes have been built, with an additional 134 slated for or under construction.

Ahmad and Manal and their three young sons fled Syria as civil war refugees, and with help from the United Nations, moved to Canada from Lebanon in 2016. They have worked hard to adjust to living in Canada and learn English.

The family lived in a two-bedroom apartment in Sault Ste. Marie that was too small for their family of five. The apartment size and layout made it difficult for Ahmad to navigate his manual wheelchair and the three young boys shared one bedroom with little space to play. Ahmad’s spinal cord injury made finding work – and getting a traditional mortgage for a more accessible home – particularly difficult.

Thanks to Habitat for Humanity Sault Ste. Marie & Area and funding through the Government of Canada’s Affordable Housing Fund (previously the National Housing Co-Investment Fund), Ahmad and Manal recently became proud Habitat homeowners after a long search for an affordable wheelchair-accessible home. Accessibility features include a roll-in shower, wider hallways and door frames, and a wider turning radius in the bathroom and kitchen.

“We’re really thankful for Habitat for providing us with an opportunity to purchase our own home. Moving to a new home will change our life to get better,” says Ahmad. “(It) will give us space to think about other things, like getting a better job or opening our own business. Another step.”

Family photo of Ahmad and Manal

Extending the life of a home

New program relieves the burden of critical home repairs

Homeownership means having a safe and decent place to live. Maintaining that home is also critical to well-being, but for some families the expense of repairs can be a burden. That’s why in 2023 we piloted a Critical Repairs Program to serve people living with lower incomes who own a home but have much-needed repairs they cannot afford to complete.

Starting in 2024, the Critical Repairs Program will extend to more communities and ensure that more people have a safe place to live and thrive. This includes homeowners like Angelina, who is unable to work and uses a wheelchair. Angelina contacted Habitat for Humanity Manitoba about repairing a broken kitchen cupboard that had fallen down, and ended up getting several repairs that improved her dignity and quality of life.

Find out more about critical repairs.

Habitat worker painting the front railing

Of homes are partially or fully accessible.

Deepening local roots

Several Habitat workers carrying a peice of lumber on a sidewalk

Local Habitats support communities beyond building homes

Local Habitats’ deep relationships in communities across Canada enable them to support their neighbours in meaningful ways beyond affordable homeownership.

In Nova Scotia, in the wake of devastating wildfires that destroyed 200 homes and left hundreds without shelter and belongings, Habitat for Humanity Nova Scotia created a wildfire response fund to support relief and recovery efforts. It worked closely with lead agencies on the ground as they assessed the damage and determined the immediate and longer-term needs of those impacted by the wildfires.

Thanks to an ongoing and successful partnership with municipal government, Habitat for Humanity Hamilton is a preferred organization for making critical repairs to Hamilton, Ontario’s largest social housing provider, CityHousing Hamilton. Habitat staff and volunteers repair and rehabilitate rent geared-to-income housing for families in need.

In Windsor, Ontario, Habitat for Humanity Windsor-Essex is committed to revitalizing the neighborhoods where it builds. In neighborhoods like Ford City, Habitat staff worked alongside volunteer high school students to restore community gardens, helping to ease the burden of food insecurity.

Students' meaningful words help build homes

“Home is where the walls are adorned with pictures of the ones we hold dear, where the softness of a quilt provides comfort and reassurance. Home is where my mom's warm embrace and my dad's wise words guide me through life's ups and downs.”

– Excerpt from 2023 Grade 5 grand prize winner Harleen’s poetry submission


Love, safety, security and memories – this is what children say home means to them.

Habitat Canada’s annual Meaning of Home contest, with founding sponsor SagenTM*, invites students in grades 4, 5 and 6 from across Canada to submit a poem or short essay about what home means to them. The lucky winners direct a grant to a local Habitat for Humanity of their choice. 

In 2023, over 12,000 students participated and raised $302,000, helping families in 42 communities across Canada build a brighter future through affordable homeownership. 

Meet all our 2023 grand prize winners and runners up and see their poetry submissions.

*Sagen™ is a trademark owned by Sagen MI Canada Inc.

Socially conscious shopping is a win-win-win-win

Habitat for Humanity Restore video poster

Habitat for Humanity ReStore is a social enterprise retailer that accepts and resells donations of new and used furniture, appliances, décor, and home improvement building materials, with all proceeds funding Habitat for Humanity homebuilding projects.

Not only does shopping at a Habitat ReStore help provide affordable homes, it’s also an environmentally conscious decision as much of what ReStores sell is new, gently used or customer returns that would otherwise end up in a landfill.

In 2023, Habitat Canada created a Habitat for Humanity ReStore public service announcement to help drive socially conscious shoppers – homeowners, renters, DIY enthusiasts and treasure hunters – to discover overstocked inventory, vintage furniture, and unique finds in their local ReStore.

Pin Icon

106

social enterprise ReStores contributed proceeds to local Habitats

Smyth's Recycle logo

"Working with Habitat Canada has been a journey filled with purpose and heart. Our focus goes beyond recycling – it's about fostering community spirit and making a tangible difference in the lives of individuals."

– Derron Smith, Smith's Recycle owner and Habitat ReStore corporate partner.

Smith’s Recycle’s decade-long partnership, and contribution of over $1.5 million in gift-in-kind products, has diverted 2 million pounds from the landfill, and been instrumental in advancing Habitat Canada’s vision of building affordable, sustainable homes.

Mobilizing support to address Canada's housing crisis

Collage of different articles showing that Canadians increasingly spend more of their income on housing

Survey reveals homeowners and renters reaching a breaking point

As our 2023 Affordable Housing Survey shows, Canadians continue to worry about their ability – and their children’s – to afford housing in this country. Housing affordability is an urgent concern, and many Canadian homeowners and renters are reaching their breaking point when it comes to juggling the increased costs of living, including housing.

Despite these increasing challenges, we are a country that values homeownership. Canadians agree that owning a home creates more stability, strengthens one's financial future, and leads to better physical and mental health outcomes.

At Habitat for Humanity Canada, we know that housing is the foundation for a better life. And we believe the housing crisis can be solved. Everyone has a role to play – governments, financial institutions and investors, home builders, and citizens. Strong, healthy communities start with safe and affordable housing.

Read more about what Canadians are saying about housing.

Blue house with a house icon with a dollar coin on the roof

Half of Canadians are spending 50% or more of their household income on housing costs

Orange house with a for rent sign in front of it icon

Over half of Canadians worry about sacrificing basic needs like food, living essentials, clothing, and education to afford their rent or mortgage payments

Orange house with a house surrounded by a circle with a slanted line icon

The overwhelming majority of Canadians believe that there is a shortage of affordable housing, and feel that the goal of owning a home is becoming more difficult to reach

Blue house with a house surrounded by two hands icon

Over half worry about their children being able to afford a home in the future

Habitat Canada President and CEO Julia Deans speaking to a CTV Vancouver news anchor

In 2023, Habitat Canada President and CEO Julia Deans spoke to journalists across the country about Canadians’ views on housing and Habitat’s commitment to action, highlighting generational and regional differences to local audiences.

Blue house with a house with a heart icon and text which says 73%

Of habitat homeowners came from market rental housing.

Habitat Canada supported leaders from British Columbia Habitats as they met with provincial lawmakers about affordable homeownership solutions
Habitat Canada supported leaders from British Columbia Habitats as they met with provincial lawmakers about affordable homeownership solutions.

Canada needs an all-in approach to the housing crisis

As Canada’s only national affordable homeownership provider, Habitat for Humanity advocates for an all-in approach to Canada’s housing crisis. We work with our partners across Canada’s housing spectrum to influence systemic change and create equitable, sustainable solutions.

Through events, research, and policy exchanges in 2023, we strengthened our partnerships with the broader housing community and engaged with governments, planning authorities, developers, and the development finance and social finance sectors to advance housing solutions.

We provided robust feedback on the design of the federal government’s Housing Accelerator Fund and the National Housing Strategy to raise the profile of affordable homeownership and improve access to federal funds.

We also joined a housing sector-wide partnership that successfully campaigned for changes to the GST on purpose-built rental housing, and we continue to advocate for changes to the GST on affordable homeownership.

And we worked with Habitat for Humanity International to advance the Home Equals campaign and ensure that multilateral forums, including the G7, recognize the importance of addressing shelter and informal settlements.

In addition to working at a national level, we increased the capacity of local Habitats to influence policies to support more housing:

  • In Ontario, along with Habitats based in the province, we welcomed a new dedicated staff person to provide government relations at Queen’s Park.
  • In British Columbia, we worked closely with local Habitats to support their first Legislative Days event.
  • Across the federation, we support local Habitats in amplifying their voice with municipal and provincial decision makers.

A Commitment to Reconciliation

Housing solutions by Indigenous communities for Indigenous communities

As part of our commitment to Reconciliation, Habitat Canada recognizes the diverse housing needs of Indigenous families. We deliver housing solutions through our Indigenous Housing Partnership that are designed by Indigenous communities for Indigenous communities. Projects include a five-unit townhouse build by Habitats for Humanity Hamilton and Heartland Ontario, in partnership with the Six Nations of the Grand River, a community of six Haudenosaunee Nations on the banks of the Grand River, Ontario. As with many First Nations, this community’s need for affordable housing is steadily growing, and this build will positively impact the lives of Six Nations families for many years to come.

The Indigenous Housing Partnership also helps to address the root causes of Indigenous peoples’ lack of access to affordable housing, including through:

  • housing rehabilitation
  • water and sanitation infrastructure
  • emergency shelter through the construction of Tiny Homes
  • Indigenous skills training and empowerment
  • capacity building efforts within First Nation communities, and
  • supporting local Habitats as they build their own awareness and capacity to serve more Indigenous families
Melissa standing on her deck with her daughter
“I could not be more grateful or honoured for this opportunity. To provide my daughter with a home to call hers is the best gift I could ever receive!!" - Melissa, Métis Habitat homeowner in Winnipeg, Manitoba
Tachane Foundation Inc. Logo

For the past 15 years the Tachane Foundation has partnered with Habitat Canada to help improve access to safe and affordable homeownership and all the benefits that come with it for Indigenous families, youth and communities across Canada. Together, we will continue to build stronger relationships with Indigenous communities, not only through homeownership, but skills training, critical repairs, and more.

– Rusty Sutherland, President, Tachane Foundation

Building tomorrow’s workforce

Skilled trades training helps fill a critical gap

”Ethan's therapists thought the Every Youth Initiative would be a great opportunity to learn hands-on skills in a supervised environment where they could assess his ability to seek employment in the construction field. Ethan has thoroughly enjoyed participating in the program and as a result has returned to the local college to receive his grade 12 diploma.”

– Habitat for Humanity Sarnia/Lambton


Twenty-two percent of Canada’s construction workforce is expected to retire by 2030. This will leave a gap of as many as 81,000 workers to supply the 22 million housing units Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation says are needed for Canada to have a chance at achieving housing affordability.

Worker on a construction site receiveing an award
Workers standing outside of a completed Habitat home

At Habitat Canada, we have a vested interest in fixing this gap. Our Every Youth Initiative engages young people in volunteerism, education and skill-building, helping them gain experience in skilled trades that can lead to better employment opportunities and a more stable financial future.

For youth like Ethan, who experienced a severe head injury as a result of an accident and was unable to complete his grade 12 diploma, the Every Youth Initiative can provide a fresh start in life.

As a national partner, Scotiabank, now in year two of a three-year $900,000 commitment, helps even more young people, including at-risk and Indigenous youth, get hands-on experience building decent and affordable Habitat homes. Experience on a build site gives young people the confidence to pursue a career in the trades — an industry that is currently severely in need of skilled workers.

Beyond our borders

Contributing to Habitat for Humanity’s global network

As a member of Habitat for Humanity International, a leading charity working in more than 70 countries, Habitat Canada makes a difference in the lives of people in Canada and around the world. We know that the housing crisis doesn’t end at Canada’s borders: globally, an estimated 1.6 billion people lack decent shelter.

We are a valued contributor to Habitat for Humanity’s global network which helped 13.4 million people build or improve a place to call home in 2023. An additional 9.5 million people improved their housing conditions and built better, healthier lives through training and advocacy driven by Habitat in their communities.

Supporting our global neighbours

Thanks to generous donors and our Home for Home program, which sees local Habitats contribute a symbolic amount of $2,500 for every home built or renovated in Canada to international housing solutions, Habitat in Canada funds high-priority projects in housing, water and sanitation, economic empowerment, and skills training.

Communities we support include Sololá, Guatemala, where we empowered families with children living with disabilities by partnering to build or repair housing solutions adapted to their children’s needs. And in central and western Honduras, we helped Indigenous families improve living conditions through hygiene and sanitation training along with the construction of floors, latrines and eco-stoves.

See our current work in Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras and Vietnam.

Heysi is ecstatic about her family’s new home thanks to Habitat Canada’s partnership with Habitat for Humanity Guatemala.
Heysi is ecstatic about her family’s new home thanks to Habitat Canada’s partnership with Habitat for Humanity Guatemala.
Plane icon

15

international families moved into new homes

Water droplet icon

167

people engaged in training such as construction, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), financial management, safe and healthy housing, safeguarding, and disaster and risk management

Renovation icon

101

homes were renovated or improved

Improving housing in informal settlements

Aerial view of a settlement with tons of homes

Imagine what would happen if, when it comes to home, we were all treated as equals? Over 1 billion people worldwide live in informal settlements, which lack basic services such as water, sanitation and electricity. Poor living conditions are not only unequal and unhealthy, they also make families more vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.

In 2023, Habitat Canada joined Habitat for Humanity International’s five-year Home Equals campaign, aimed at changing policies to provide safe and secure housing for people living in slums and other informal settlements. When it comes to housing, it’s time to level the playing field.

Habitat Canada President & CEO Julia Deans joins other leaders at the Habitat for Humanity International National Director conference in Bangkok, Thailand.
Habitat Canada President and CEO Julia Deans joins other leaders at the Habitat for Humanity International National Director conference in Bangkok, Thailand.

Joining Cooperation Canada

Domestically, Habitat Canada was also proud to join Cooperation Canada, a national network of organizations working in the international development and humanitarian sector. By coming together with other non-profits on the frontlines of social justice, humanitarian aid, and economic and democratic development, we can help ensure that Canada’s international commitments to housing are effective and meaningful.

Tackling the housing crisis together

Canada extends partnership with Habitat for Humanity

In March 2023, the Government of Canada and Habitat for Humanity Canada announced an additional $25 million investment to build 500 new affordable homes across Canada over the next three years. This brings the total federal investment in Habitat for Humanity to $80.8 million through the Government of Canada’s Affordable Housing Fund.

Through the Fund, which includes funding to build homes for Black families, 317 Habitat homes were built as of December 31, 2023, with an additional 498 slated for or under construction with local Habitat organizations in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Saskatchewan and the Yukon.

The Honourable Ahmed Hussen, former Minister of Housing and Diversity and Inclusion, alongside Habitat for Humanity GTA homeowner Gritsha, Habitat for Humanity Canada’s President and Chief Executive Officer Julia Deans and Iqwinder Gaheer, Member of Parliament for Mississauga-Malton announcing new $25 million Habitat housing investment.
The Honourable Ahmed Hussen, former Minister of Housing and Diversity and Inclusion, alongside Habitat for Humanity GTA homeowner Gritsha, Habitat for Humanity Canada’s President & Chief Executive Officer Julia Deans and Iqwinder Gaheer, Member of Parliament for Mississauga-Malton announcing new $25 million Habitat housing investment
Scotiabank logo

A transformative partnership with Scotiabank

Habitat Canada is honoured to receive a remarkable gift in kind from Scotiabank: the donation of office space for six years. Thanks to Scotiabank's generosity, resources previously allocated for leasing expenses can now be redirected towards our core vision, enhancing our impact and extending our reach to more families and communities across Canada. This innovative donation was made possible through Scotiabank's ScotiaRISE social impact initiative to remove barriers and strengthen economic resilience among disadvantaged groups.

ScotiaRISE’s contribution improves our capacity to address housing affordability for families and exemplifies how collaboration between the corporate sector and non-profit organizations can support meaningful, lasting change. This donation is more than just a space — it's a commitment to helping us build a brighter, more inclusive future for all Canadians. We extend our deepest gratitude to Scotiabank for its visionary support. 

Nissan Canada Foundation marks its 30th anniversary

Over the past 16 years, Nissan Canada Foundation has donated more than $3.2 million to Habitat Canada and its 1,600 volunteers have collectively contributed more than 10,000 hours on Habitat build sites in every province. In addition, Nissan Canada Foundation’s support has enabled the purchase of 10 Nissan vehicles for local Habitats, expanding and enhancing their operations and ultimately helping more families nationwide.

Nissan Canada workers filling up a wheelbarrow
Schneider Electric team standing and sitting on the back of a white Habitat pickup truck

Celebrating Schneider Electric’s 20-year Habitat milestone

Since 2003, Schneider Electric has been a cornerstone partner of Habitat Canada, contributing more than $3.7 million. The company's involvement extends well beyond financial support and includes the donation of advanced electrical panels that enhance the energy efficiency and sustainability of Habitat homes.

Schneider Electric's team has also shown remarkable personal commitment by contributing more than 12,500 volunteer hours in build projects nationwide. Schneider Electric's engagement in innovative sustainable housing initiatives is a testament to our shared dedication to creating environmentally responsible and energy-efficient communities across Canada.

EllisDon helps Habitat build faster and smarter

Through our partnership with EllisDon Community Builders, local Habitats receive advisory services to help evaluate how to build for the most impact on specific pieces of land, with key information and advice on planning restrictions, permitted density, and potentially available financing. Together, we’re making affordable housing more accessible to Canadian families.

"There are several obstacles to homeownership in Canada today, including financial impacts from the pandemic and inflation. Because EllisDon and Habitat for Humanity Canada work on a national scale, we are collaborating to streamline the development process, so more individuals and families will be able to buy a Habitat home of their own.

– Nicholas Gefucia, Vice President EllisDon Community Builders.

EllisDon testimonial from Hazzem Koudsi, Executive Director, Habitat for Humanity Prince Edward-Hastings.
EllisDon testimonial from Hazzem Koudsi, Executive Director, Habitat for Humanity Prince Edward-Hastings

Thank you to generous partners who share our vision

Corporate partners

Legacy

Home Depot Canada Foundation Logo
Home Depot Canada Logo
Whirlpool Canada Logo

Platinum

Canada Institute of Plumbing & Heating Logo
SAGEN Logo
RONA Logo
Tachane Foundation Inc. Logo
Electric Federation Canada Logo

Gold

EllisDon Logo
enercare Logo
Scotiabank Logo
TD Logo

Silver

Enbridge Logo
Certainreed Logo
IPEX Logo
Owens Corning Logo
Smith's Recycle Logo
West Fraser Logo
Big Steel Box Logo

Bronze

Airbnb

Amazon Canada

Benefit Cosmetics Canada

BGO

Blakes

CGC

DuPont

Gardena

GESCO Industries LP

Gordon Food Service

Guillevin

Honda Canada Foundation

Hunter Douglas

IKEA Canada

KENT Building Supplies

Levolor

MCAP

NewAge Products

Nissan Canada Foundation

NLI International

RBC Foundation

Revera

RONA Foundation

Rust-Oleum Canada

Schneider Electric

Senville

Southwire

Sunbelt Rentals

TC Energy

Travelers Canada

Urban Systems Foundation

Williams-Sonoma Inc.

Strategic partners

Bank of America Logo
DCM Logo
CMHC Logo
EY Logo
Vancity Community Investment Bank Logo

Celebrating milestones

Schneider Electric Celebrating 20 Years As Partners Banner
Tachane Foundation Inc. Celebrating 15 Years As Partners Banner
Travelers Celebrating 10 Years As Partners Banner
BGO Celebrating 5 Years As Partners Banner
Big Steel Box Celebrating 5 Years As Partners Banner
DUPONT Celebrating 5 Years As Partners Banner
Scotiabank Celebrating 5 Years As Partners Banner

Habitat Canada is proud to work with generous organizations that lend their expertise and resources to help us and our 46 local Habitats across Canada maximize impact. They recognize the benefits of affordable homeownership and share our vision of a world where everyone has a decent and affordable place to live.

Habitat for Humanity Canada Board of Directors

Riccardo Trecroce, Board Chair

David Sauve, Past Chair

Sharon Kuropatwa

Rachel O’Connor

Brad Peters, Vice Chair

Victoria Barclay, ex officio

Craig Meeds

Christine Pacini

Leland Corbett, Secretary

Kathleen Flynn

Corinna Mitchell-Beaudin

Imran Thaver

Ken Lancaster, Treasurer

David Hooper

Mehdi Nezarati

Marie Claire Uwanyirigira

Contact us

Habitat for Humanity Canada
100 Yonge St. Suite #1002
Toronto, ON M5C 2W1

Phone: 416-644-0988
Toll-free: (800) 667-5137

Charitable Registration Number
118950120RR0001